"California Son" enters at #4 in UK album charts; #1 in UK vinyl album charts

https://www.officialcharts.com/char...number-1-on-the-official-albums-chart__26457/

Excerpt:
Morrissey claims this week’s highest new entry with his covers album California Son at Number 4, his 14th Top 10 album as a solo artist.

The Motion Picture Cast Recording of Elton John biopic Rocketman makes a Top 5 debut at Number 5, just ahead of Elton’s Diamonds greatest hits album, which leaps nine spots to Number 6. The Amazons’ second album Future Dust becomes their second Top 10 effort, debuting at Number 9.

All 14 of them:
Viva Hate: 1
Bona Drag: 9
Kill Uncle: 8
Your Arsenal: 4
Vauxhall: 1
Southpaw: 4
Maladjusted: 8
Quarry: 2
Ringleader: 1
Greatest Hits: 5
Refusal: 3
World Peace: 2
Low in High School: 5
California Son: 4

So the same position as Your Arsenal and Southpaw Grammar, not bad at all.

---

UPDATE 9:50AM PT:

Posted by Alexi:

Number 1 in the vinyl charts

https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/vinyl-albums-chart/

---

Added by Thewlis:

Additional info from Music Week:

"Morrissey’s first album release as a sexagenarian (he was 60 on 22 May) is his 12th solo studio set and first ever covers album, California Son, which debuts at No.4 (8,340 sales). It comprises entirely of remakes of songs written and originally recorded by North American (US and Canadian) acts between 1964 and 1975. Morrissey’s fanbase being what it is, it is no surprise that the album performs poorly on sales-equivalent streams (311 units) but very well physically, where its 7,132 sales include 1,951 on vinyl, in which format chart it debuts at No.1.

All of Morrissey’s solo studio albums have made the Top 10, a run that started in 1988 when his first post-Smiths release, Viva Hate debuted at No.1, becoming the first of his three No.1 solo albums. Including his Smiths’ albums, Morrissey has had 24 Top 10 albums, and reached No.1 five times."

 

[Surface]

Only fair that TIALTNGO and LWTUA are bigger. Two of the most gorgeous pieces of music ever recorded. Utterly and completely immortal. Perfection.

I agree with you, personally I have never liked Blue Monday.

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

Not bummed at all, disappointed that his mouth has cost him a lot of fans.

a lot but not many...

Number 4, baby !!!

 

[Surface]

a lot but not many...

Number 4, baby !!!

8300 sales - he has lost a lot of fans

 

[Orson Swells]

I think that’s a lot to do with Joy Division. They’re even more influential on today’s (ie these past 15 years or so) alternative music scene.

And their lead singer voted Tory...

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

Means nothing Ketamine - 8500 sales!!

Nothing ?


Then why so defensive?



Number 4 !!!! baby !!!

 

[Thewlis]

Only fair that TIALTNGO and LWTUA are bigger. Two of the most gorgeous pieces of music ever recorded. Utterly and completely immortal. Perfection.

Agreed 100% of course, two of my absolute favourite songs ever!
But only ever reached number 13 and 25 in the British charts. There must be countless number 1's from the 80s that now are completely forgotten about.

 

[Surface]

Nothing ?


Then why so defensive?



Number 4 !!!! baby !!!

You reckon he hasn't lost many fans - facts say he has. Do you think BMG will be high fiving over a number 4 chart position or thinking 8500 sales is really shit?

 

[Gregor Samsa]

And their lead singer voted Tory...

Yet he remains one of my all time favorite lyricists and front men of all time. Art > politics.

 

[Gregor Samsa]

Agreed 100% of course, two of my absolute favourite songs ever!
But only ever reached number 13 and 25 in the British charts. There must be countless number 1's from the 80s that now are completely forgotten about.

Top three in my book!
And yes, that is absolutely the case. These numbers aren’t doing anyone any favors.

 

[Surface]

Agreed 100% of course, two of my absolute favourite songs ever!
But only ever reached number 13 and 25 in the British charts. There must be countless number 1's from the 80s that now are completely forgotten about.

Shows how things have changed when you see that relatively new bands like The 1975 (weirdly also from where I live) have over 200 million listens on a couple of their tracks that are less than 3 years old?

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

You reckon he hasn't lost many fans - facts say he has. Do you think BMG will be high fiving over a number 4 chart position or thinking 8500 sales is really shit?

It doesn’t matter because ....

‘Given the inexhaustible Hate Campaign executed against me by The Guardian and their followers, I am pleased with the UK chart position for "California son".‘

- Morrissey



and it’s NUMBER 4 !!!!


and this is why.....

 

[Anonymous]

It's amazing and quite depressing that sales of only 8,340 units will get you to #4 in the UK album chart these days. Nothing to do with Morrissey, just the state of how album sales have collapsed in this modern day streaming/nick it for free off the internet era. I'm guessing with those numbers, you could have a top 20 album that sells hardly anything.

 

[Surface]

It doesn’t matter because ....

‘Given the inexhaustible Hate Campaign executed against me by The Guardian and their followers, I am pleased with the UK chart position for "California son".‘

- Morrissey



and it’s NUMBER 4 !!!!


and this is why.....

It matters if they say f*** off Moz, you're finished?

 

[Thewlis]

Don't be daft, Moz is never finished, one of the last real icons of British popular music.

 

[The Irish Hare]

https://www.officialcharts.com/char...number-1-on-the-official-albums-chart__26457/

Excerpt:
Morrissey claims this week’s highest new entry with his covers album California Son at Number 4, his 14th Top 10 album as a solo artist.

The Motion Picture Cast Recording of Elton John biopic Rocketman makes a Top 5 debut at Number 5, just ahead of Elton’s Diamonds greatest hits album, which leaps nine spots to Number 6. The Amazons’ second album Future Dust becomes their second Top 10 effort, debuting at Number 9.

All 14 of them:
Viva Hate: 1
Bona Drag: 9
Kill Uncle: 8
Your Arsenal: 4
Vauxhall: 1
Southpaw: 4
Maladjusted: 8
Quarry: 2
Ringleader: 1
Greatest Hits: 5
Refusal: 3
World Peace: 2
Low in High School: 5
California Son: 4

So the same position as Your Arsenal and Southpaw Grammar, not bad at all.

---

UPDATE 9:50AM PT:

Posted by Alexi:

Number 1 in the vinyl charts

https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/vinyl-albums-chart/

---

Added by Thewlis:

Additional info from Music Week:

"Morrissey’s first album release as a sexagenarian (he was 60 on 22 May) is his 12th solo studio set and first ever covers album, California Son, which debuts at No.4 (8,340 sales). It comprises entirely of remakes of songs written and originally recorded by North American (US and Canadian) acts between 1964 and 1975. Morrissey’s fanbase being what it is, it is no surprise that the album performs poorly on sales-equivalent streams (311 units) but very well physically, where its 7,132 sales include 1,951 on vinyl, in which format chart it debuts at No.1.

All of Morrissey’s solo studio albums have made the Top 10, a run that started in 1988 when his first post-Smiths release, Viva Hate debuted at No.1, becoming the first of his three No.1 solo albums. Including his Smiths’ albums, Morrissey has had 24 Top 10 albums, and reached No.1 five times."

The Independent mentions that his"supposed" support for For Britain does not appear to have affected his sales at no 4entry in the British charts. Supposed being the operative word. Nice to read something that has a degree of restraint.

 

[Surface]

Don't be daft, Moz is never finished, one of the last real icons of British popular music.

I mean with BMG - would you spend loads of money promoting an artist whose last efforts turned into such a poor return on investment? I'm assuming Morrissey will have to pay the song writers and everyone involved in the recording of the album.

 

[Thewlis]

I mean with BMG - would you spend loads of money promoting an artist whose last efforts turned into such a poor return on investment? I'm assuming Morrissey will have to pay the song writers and everyone involved in the recording of the album.

That remains to be seen. I think there is another album coming for BMG due for release next year.
But so far they have done pretty well with Morrissey, with two top-5 albums (and no fights that we know of), so I think both parties are content.
They must have lots of artists/releases that never make the UK top-5.

 

[Surface]

That remains to be seen. I think there is another album coming for BMG due for release next year.
But so far they have done pretty well with Morrissey, with two top-5 albums (and no fights that we know of), so I think both parties are content.
They must have lots of artists/releases that never make the UK top-5.

Do you really think they are interested in chart positions. They are a business and will care about sales.

 

[Thewlis]

Do you really think they are interested in chart positions. They are a business and will care about sales.

Well again they must have plenty of releases that sell less than Mozzer's.
I think they are quite content to have him on board. And I think Moz is quite happy at BMG too.

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

It matters if they say f*** off Moz, you're finished?

Finished for you?

For me he has already won.

And keeps on winning.